Antitheft device



Aug. 4, 1942. a. N. DAVIS ANTITHEFT DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY 1942- B. N. DAVIS ANTITHEFT DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1942 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ANTITHEFT DEVICE Bemiss N. Davis, New Orleans, La.

Application February 25, 1942, Serial No. 432,175

12 Claims.

The invention is particularly designed to secure tires and wheels onautomobiles against theft. Embodiments of the invention are easilyapplied to and removed from the wheels, and they are not unsightly andwill not interfere with the rolling of the wheels.

The eifective part of the device is a bar that is secured diametrallyacross the hub of the wheel and extends at each end beyond the rim andthus overlies the tire sufficiently to prevent it from getting by thebar even when deflated and loosened from the rim. It also prevents theremoval of the hub cap which is a necessary precedent to removing thewheel.

There is generally provided a series of openings around the innerperiphery of the rim of automobile wheels, and the inventioncontemplates utilizing these or other openings which if necessarymay bemade specifically for the purpose, to accommodate the retaining meanswhich extend through them and are shaped so as to prevent forwardmovement, and are detachably secured at their front ends to the bar. Toprevent unauthorized tampering with the securing means,

a lockable instrumentality i provided which in locked condition rendersthe securing means immobile.

The invention also contemplates the provision of complementary means onthe back of the wheel and tire to prevent removal of the tire from 1,.-

the rim rearwardly from where it may be slipped over the wheel.Preferably such means are afforded by shaping the retaining means sothat their rear ends extend outwardly beyond the rims and in opposingrelation to the inner part of the rear face of the tire.

Other details of the invention will appear from the followingdescription of the illustrated embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation with part broken away of a tire equippedwheel with the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a median transverse section of the same on enlarged scale, onthe line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a portion of the topof the wheel and of the anti-theft mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on enlarged scale of the parts shown inFig. 3 on line 44 thereof, showing a slightly modified form of retainingmember.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section in plan on line 55 of Fig. i.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section in plan on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a modified embodiment ofthe invention.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary details in section and front elevation,respectively, of another modification of the invention.

The automobile wheel shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is of the type in which ashaped sheet metallic hub member I completely occupies the space insidethe rim 2 and has a removable hub cap 3 which covers the inner hub 4 andthe lug nuts 5 that secure the wheel to the axle. The tire consisting ofthe shoe 5 and the inner tube 1 is disposed cn the rim 2.

The hub member 3 is shown as provided with four equally spaced openings8 just inside the rim. The construction of various makes of car wheelsdiffers in this respect, some having more and some fewer openings, butif the wheel to which the invention is to be applied does not have twosuch diametrically opposed openings two openings so locate-d will bemade.

The protecting or guard member which precludes the removal of the tireor wheel is a metallic channel bar t which is supported diametrallyacross the front of the wheel in sufficient proximity to the hub cap 3to prevent the removal of the cap, and it is centrally disposed withrespect to the axis of the wheel. As shown the bar is shaped somewhat soa to conform generally to the surface configuration, and the ends bearagainst and fit the rims and extend on beyond the rims and overlie thetire a sufiicient distance to assure that the tire cannot pass. Theseends 9a are shown as concaved and following the cross-sectional shape ofthe tire and preferably will be out of contact with the tire.

The channel sides terminate at about the point where the bar engages therim, and in this construction the ends which overlie the tire are of thesame width as the base of the bar, but if preferred, the ends of the barmay be widened, such as the ends 91) in Figs. 8 and 9. As shown in thislatter form these guard ends may be spaced slightly from the tire.Manifestly the wider the guard ends the less distance they need projectbeyond the tire rim to prevent removal of the tire.

The bar 9 is supported in this central position by two retaining membersHi. These retaining members are metallic straps that pass through theopenings 8 and are secured at their front ends to the bar 9 and areshaped to engage the rear of the wheel so as to limit their forwardmovement. In the form shown in Fig. 2 the rear portion of the retainingstraps is bent to form guard ends Ilia that bear against and conform tothe rim 2 and continue on in tire opposing relation similar to the ends90.. In this way the tire is prevented from removal in both directions.

To fasten the front ends of the retaining straps I to the bar 9,securing means are provided which are protected from unauthorizedremoval. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 4 an angle plate H serves as acoupling member for each strap. The strap is attached to one leg of theplate by a bolt l2 the head of which lies within the angle of the plate,and the bar 9 is attached to the other leg of the plate by a screw l3which is threaded through the bar and plate and extends across the headof the bolt l2 so as to interfere with and prevent the removal of thebolt. These two securing members therefore have to be inserted in.

one order and removed in the reverse order.

Since the screws l 3 are the members that have to be taken out first indisassembling the mechanism, lockable means are provided to preventunauthorized removal of the screws. As shown this is a plate or bar Mwhich is shaped to fit upon the bar 9 and lies within the channel. Theheads of the screws l3 are rectangular and rectangular holes Me in thelocking bar M are shaped and spaced to fit over'the heads of the screws[3 when the bar 14 is in place, Thus the screws are prevented: frombeing turned and removed.

To prevent unauthorized removal of the bar I4 to free thev screws l3means are provided to lock it to the bar 9. As shown this consists of aloop at one end and a key look at the other. At a point beyond theopening for the screw I3 at one end the bar 9 has its flanges bridged bya strip of metal forming a loop l5, and at the other end just inside theopening for the screw l3 the bar It is provided with a key plug andcylinder Hi that registers with a cylindrical recess I1 on the bar 9when the bar I4 is properly placed. The key plug has an eccentric radialprojection on its inner end where it extends through the cylinder, whichprojection coacts with a lateral pin in the wall of the recess lTforlocking purposes.

The dotted position of the bar 14 shown in Figs. 2"and 4 will indicatethe mode of applying and removing the bar. Its end opposite the lock isentered under the loop and the bar is then laid down in the channel withthe key plug entering the locking recess. A turn of the key locks thebars together and in that condition the screws l3 cannot be unscrewed. Acounterbalance IB may be provided on the bar 9.

Whetheror not the -bar-9 is a channel member is optional, but thechannel has advantage in strength, appearance and convenience inapplying the locking bar and it also'prevents the insertion of a pryingtool between the two bars as a lock breaking instrument. The double barconstruction: also multiplies thestrength and rigidity across the hubportion of the wheel.

In cases where provision against rearward removal of the tire isunnecessary, the retaining members may merely hook over the metal edgeof the'hub or over the rim. In Fig. 4 is shown such'a retaining member Ho-which has its rear end-bent to form a hook 5 Na that is shown asturned down.

In-case of a spokewheel the angle plate may be-dispensed with sincethere is ampleroombetween the spokes to insert a retaining member thathas its front end as 'wellas its rear end bent. Such a construction isshown in Fig. 7. The retaining-strap 2H) has its ends reversely.bent,'the

rear end being turned up and engaging behind the rim, and the front endbeing turned down and having a threaded hole to receive the screw l3.When applied to a spoke wheel the width of the retainin straps will besuch as to prevent sufiicient movement toward the center of the wheel toloosen the hook engagement on the inner face of the tire rim; and thesame precaution will apply where the openings 8 are large or are ofunusual shape,

It is obvious that the invention may be otherwise embodied and thereforeit is the intention that the invention be not limited to theconstructions shown in the drawings and above particularly described butonly as pointed out in the following. claims.

I claim:

1. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising aprotecting bar designed to overlie the hub and the front face of thetire, a retaining member adapted to extend through the wheel andengagethe rear thereof against forward displacement, means for securingthe bar to the retaining member, means for preventing access to thesecuring means to remove the same, and means to lock the accesspreventing means.

2. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising aprotecting bar designed to overlie the hub and the front face of thetire, a retaining member adapted to extend through the wheel and engagethe rear thereof against forward displacement, an angle plate, means forsecuring the outer end of the. retaining member to one leg of the plate,means for securing the bar to the other leg of the plate, one of thesecuring means being disposed in position to prevent disengagement ofthe other, a removable locking member for the said one securing means,and means tolock the'locking member to the bar.

3. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising aprotecting bar designed to overlie the hub and the front face of thetire, a retaining member adapted to extend through the wheel and engagein the rear thereof against forward displacement, an angle plate forsecuring the retaining member to the bar, removable attaching meansbetween the plate and the front end of the retaining member, securingmeans passing through the bar and plate in position to prevent removalof the attaching means, and a locking member locking the securing meansin place.

4. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising aprotecting bar designed to overlie the hub and the front face of thetire, a retaining member adapted to extend through the wheel and engagein the rear thereof against forward displacement, an angle plate forsecuring the retaining member to the bar, removable attaching meansbetween the plate and the; front end of the retaining member, securingmeans passing through the bar and plate in position to-prevent removalof the attaching means, a locking bar fitted to the outer face of theprotecting bar in retaining relation to the securing means, and meansfor locking the two bars together.

5. Anti-theft means for automobile Wheels and their tires comprising aprotecting bar designed to overlie the hub and the front face of thetire, a retaining member adapted to extend through the wheel and engagein the rear thereof against forward displacement, an angle plate forsecuringthe retaining member to the bar, removable attaching meansbetween the plate and the front end of the retaining member, ascrewfastening the bar and plate together and extending inwardly inposition to prevent removal of the securing means, the screw having anon-circular head, a locking bar fitted to the outer face of theprotecting bar and having a non-circular opening fitting over the screwhead, and means for locking the two bars together.

6. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising aprotecting bar designed to overlie the hub and the front face of thetire, a retaining member adapted to extend through the wheel and engagein the rear thereof against forward displacement, an angle plate forsecur ing the retaining member to the bar, a headed member passingthrough one leg of the plate and the outer end of the retaining member,a screw threaded through the bar and the other leg of the plate andextending across the head of the headed member and preventing removal ofthe member, the screw having a non-circular head, a locking bar fittedto the outer face of the protecting bar and having a non-circularopening fitting over the screw head, and means for locking the two barstogether.

'7. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising aprotecting bar designed to extend across the front of the wheel andoverlie the inner portion of the front face of the tire in symmetricalrelation to the axis of the wheel, two retaining members adapted toextend through the wheel on opposite sides of the axis and parallelthereto, releasable means for removably securing the bar to each of theretaining members, locking means for the releasable means, and means forlocking the lock ing means to the bar.

8. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising tworetaining strips adapted to extend through openings in a wheel betweenthe hub and the rim and engage in the rear of the wheel against forwarddisplacement, a protecting bar proportioned to extend in front of thewheel beyond the rim in each direction so as to overlie the innerportion of the front face of the tire with each end, removable securingmeans entered from the front of the bar and attaching the bar to eachretaining strip, and a locking bar removably locked to the protectingbar and preventing removal of the securing means.

9. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprising tworetaining strips adapted to extend through openings in a wheel betweenthe hub and the rim and engage in the rear of the wheel against forwarddisplacement, at protecting bar proportioned to extend in front of thewheel beyond the rim in each direction so as to overlie the innerportion of the front face of the tire with each end, an angle plate forcoupling each retaining strip to the bar, a bolt fastening the inner endof each strip to one leg of the plate, a screw passing through the barand the other leg of each plate in interfering relation with therespective bolt, the screw having a non-circular head exposed on thefront face of the bar, a locking bar fitted upon the protecting bar andhaving non-circular holes fitting over the heads of the screws, andmeans for locking the two bars together.

10. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprisingtwo oppositely disposed retaining strips located in openings through thewheel and having their outer ends bent at an angle to overlie the rearface of the tire and engage the rim against forward displacement, aprotecting bar proportioned to extend in front of the wheel beyond therim in each direction so as to overlie the inner portion of the frontface of the tire with each end, removable securing means entered fromthe front of the bar and attaching the bar to each retaining strip, anda locking bar removably locked to the protecting bar and preventingremoval of the securing means.

11. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprisingtwo oppositely disposed retaining strips located in openings through thewheel and having their outer ends bent at an angle to overlie the rearface of the tire and engage the rim against forward displacement, aprotecting bar proportioned to extend in front of the wheel beyond therim in each direction so as to overlie the inner portion of the frontface of the tire with each end, an angle plate for coupling eachretaining strip to the bar, a bolt fastening the inner end of each stripto one leg of the plate, a screw passing through the bar and the otherleg of each plate in interfering relation with the respective bolt, thescrew having a non-circular head exposed on the front face of the bar, alocking bar fitted upon the protecting bar and having non-circular holesfitting over the heads of the screws, and means for locking the two barstogether.

12. Anti-theft means for automobile wheels and their tires comprisingtwo retaining strips adapted to extend through openings in a wheelbetween the hub and the rim and engage in the rear of the wheel againstforward displacement, a protecting bar proportioned to extend in frontof the wheel beyond the rim in each direction so as to overlie the innerportion of the front face of the tire with each end, an angle plate forcoupling each retaining strip to the bar, a bolt fastening the inner endof each strip to one leg of the plate, a screw passing through the barand the other leg of each plate in interfering relation with therespective bolt, the screw having a non-circular head exposed on thefront face of the bar, an integral loop on the outer face of the barnear one end, and a locking bar fitted upon the protecting bar andhaving one end entered in the loop and the other end detachably lockedto the protecting bar, the locking bar having two non-circular holesfitting over the heads of the respective screws.

BEMISS N. DAVIS.

